The metamorphosis of cricket in Australia is taking shape under the governance of the current Cricket Australia (CA) board.
A devastating low conceived in South Africa in March 2018 threatened to derail part of the organisation but the fabric and foundation has been put back together in the ensuing 22 months.
Leadership mentor and life coach expert Ben Crowe has worked closely with CA in recent times to witness first-hand just how such a shift has been made possible.
“They’re probably my favourite client at the moment, in terms of this extraordinary transformation that’s happening inside that sport,” Crowe said of CA on SEN Breakfast.
“All credit to Kevin Roberts, the CEO, (chairman) Earl (Eddings) and the board. It’s not just JL (Justin Langer), Painey (Tim Paine) and Pat (Cummins) and Alex Carey and Finchy (Aaron Finch) or Motty (Matthew Mott) and Meg (Lanning) and Rachael (Haynes) and the Women’s team.
“The entire sport, right through the executives and right through HR, Raj Tapper (GM People & Culture) and her team, there’s this beautiful sense of humility, humanity, perspective and sense of purpose beyond playing cricket.
“They really want to inspire the nation both on the field and off the field. But they’ve also found that beautiful sense of gratitude.
“They are also unlocking their storytelling, they are having more fun, they are taking the p--s versus that sledging generation.
“And they are achieving. They are performing really well but they’ve got this sense of perspective off the field as well.”
Crowe also pointed out how the leadership being conducted at the top is having such a positive impact on the entire organisation.
“Every organisation lives and dies on three things - how they think, what they prioritise and the decisions and choices that they make,” he added.
“If they think differently, in particular from the parents of the organisation - the board and senior executives - that will trickle down.
“You are the company you keep. It’s the same at home. Parents set the agenda for the house and kids become a product of that environment. It’s the same in the workforce as well.
“If leaders create that philosophy, then that becomes the environment.”
The Aussie Men’s side is next in action in a 3-game T20I / 3-game ODI series in South Africa in February and March.
Next on the agenda for the Women’s team is a 4-game Tri-Series with England and India (in Canberra and Melbourne) which acts as the lead-up for the ICC T20 World Cup.
Their first World Cup fixture is against the West Indies in Brisbane on February 15.
Listen to Crowe’s chat on SEN Breakfast below: